Advertising display



Nov. 27, 1945;

E. BORREGARD ADVERTISING DISPLAY Filed Feb. 12, 1942 'llIl/IIIIIIII. *5

INVENTOR s1 Borre oral ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 27, 1945 ADVERTISING DISPLAY Ernst Borregard, Long Island City, N. Y., as-

signor to Fuller Displays, Inc., Long Island City, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 12, 1942, Serial No. 430,565 I 4 Claims.

My present invention'relates to display devices, and more particularly to an improved'animated display device. I I

My improved invention is a display device. of the animated type in which a plurality of figures, representing animals, persons or the like, have a simulated movement in order to attract the attention of the observer to the display and therefore to the goods it is'desired to advertise thereby.

My device is designed to eliminate the main trouble of animated displays as are in use at the present time, namely, that such devices are too mechanical and the various movements of one object with respect to the other is predetermined and constant. My present invention affords the representation of a group of figures to each of which respectively is given individual movement which is independent of the movement of the combined figures but which individual movement viewed with the remaining figures simulates a combined action between the figures represented.

' However, the individual movement of the respective figures bears no relation whatever to 'the time of movement of any of the other figures, that is, the movement of any figure is not dependent on, or in time with, the movement of any other figure, nor is the degree or range of movement of any of the figures constant in any sense.

In carrying out my invention, I arrange a plurality of figures at spaced intervals along a pivotally mounted lever intermittently oscillated about its pivot point by electrical means. The figures are mounted on the lever preferably by spring means so that each figure will have a movement the extent of which is determined by the movement of the lever, and because of the spring mounting, each of such figures will have a movement independent of the movement of the spring and of greater or less amplitude, depending upon the stiffness or flexibility, as well as the length of its mounting spring. 1

The object of my invention, therefore, is an improved animated display device.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a display device and made according to my present invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1, part of the structure being shown in section and having associated therewith the electric control means for imparting oscillatory. movement to the figure-holding lever:

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional end elevation taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional end elevation taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, l0 designates a base of any desired dimensions suitable for the display to be made or mounted thereon. Pivotally mounted on the base if! by hinge H is a lever l2, as shown in Fig. 2. The hinge I I may be screwed tothe under face of the lever i2 and the same may be attached to the base '15 by the pronged staple l3, which also acts as the pivot for the hinge I I, see Fig. 5. At one end of the base lilis a notch or groove Illa, in which is housed a solenoid l4. Preferably, I fasten to the bottom surface of the end of the base Ill aplate I5 which may be of cardboard or any other suitable material, to provide a bottom for the notch or groove Illa, and thus prevent the solenoid It from falling out of position should such solenoid It not be a sufficiently snug fit in the groove lea. "The'solenoid I4 is energized from-any'suitables'ource of power through the conductors l6 and Il, and in one of the conductors, as the conductor lfi, is a heating coil I8 for controllingthe operation of a bi-metallic thermostat l9, such bi-metallic thermostat being shown connected in the conductor ll and controlling the circuit through such conductor at the contact points 20. I

One end of the lever I2 is provided with a notch or groove 2!, slightly larger in width than the diameter of the solenoid i l/so that upon oscillation of the lever l2, the upper end of the sole noid M will be received within the groove 2!, Secured to the grooved end of the lever i2 is a plate 22 0f non-metallic material and'provided with a perforation in alignment with the interior of thesolenoid l4. Resting on top'of the plate 22 is a disc or washer 23 of non-metallic material, as rubber, and. through such washer extends a bolt 24 which acts as an armature for the solenoid I4.

When the bi-meta-llic thermostat I9 is in a cool condition, the contacts 20 are closed, thereby completing the circuit through the conductors l6 and I1 and the solenoid I4, and thereby energizing the solenoid l4 so as to attract the armature 24 and rotate or oscillate the lever [2 about the hinge H in clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2. The completion of the circuit also completes the circuit through the heating element l8. As the mechanically biased end of the lever 12 moves downward, it will remain down until the heating element 18 has heated the bi-metallic thermostat sufiiciently to break the circuit through conductor H at the contacts 20, Whereupon the distribution of the weights on the lever I2 will cause the lever to move back into the position shown in Fig. 2.

There may be mounted on the lever [2 at various points along its length a number of figures or symbols or any advertising matter as may be desired. I have shown adjacent the pivot hinge II a standard 25, to the upper end of which is secured one end of a spring 26, and on the other end of such spring through the intermediary of a member 21 is secured the figure of an animal 28, such as the figure of a cat. The movement of the figure 28 is thus of limited amplitude, although given considerable scope. As the lever I 2 rotates or oscillates about the hinge II, the

member will move in synchronism therewith, and the spring 26 to which is attached the figure 28 will impart to the figure 28 not only the movement of the member 25 but also an additional and independent movement, depending on the length and resiliency of the spring 26.

At the end of the lever 12 adjacent the notch or groove 2| is secured a block 29, and to this block is secured the lower end of a Spring 38. At the upper end of the spring 30 is secured, through the intermediary of block 3|, the figtire of an animal 32, as a dog. By comparison with the figure of the cat 28, it is obvious that the figure of the dog 32 will have a much more animated movement than such cat, due primarily to not only the employment of the relatively long spring 30, but also to the absence of the relatively stifi mounting 25, as in the case of the cat 28. As the lever I2, therefore, oscillates, the cat 28 will be given a certain degree of movement, as will also the figure of the dog 32, but the amplitude of movement of the dog 32 will be so much greater than that of the cat 28 that it will appear to the observer that the dog is making energetic efiort in chasing the cat.

In the present instance, the mounting for the cat 28 is on one side of the povot hinge H, while the mounting for the dog 32 is on the other side, and it has been found that this gives the best range of movement for the purpose desired. On the same side of the pivot hinge II as the cat 28 and more nearly adjacent the end of the lever I2 is a member33, to which is secured a rather long and relatively more flexible spring 84, and to the upper end of the spring 3'4 is secured the figure of an animal 35, such as a mouse or rat. It is clear that because of the character or the mounting of the animal 35 as compared with either the mounting 25 for the cat 28 or the mounting for the dog 32 that the mouse, 35 will have a greater range of movement than either of such animals, and because of such relation to the cat 28 will have the appearance of being chased by the cat.

It will be seen that there is no constant relationship between the movement of the cat 28, do 82 or mouse 35 other than there will be a mutual association of all of these figures with respect to each other. The movement of the cat 28 is short but continuous, and of a relatively fixed ampli tude. The movement of the dog 82 is constant, but its range in amplitude of movement is unde= terininable, as is also the range or amplitude of movement of the mouse 35-. Not only is this so, but because of the amplitude and range of the dog 32, the action of the lever 12 is undeterminable, regardless of the fact that the strength of current through the heating coil l8 may be constant. If the figure of the mouse, for example, and referring to Fig. 2, is close to the 'cat 28 when the bi-metallic element of the ther mostat 19 has come into engagement with the contacts 20 to close the circuit through the heating coil I8, the energy imparted to the solenoid H will be suflicient to quickly energize the solenoid l4 and cause a quick or rapid oscillation of the lever l2. On the contrary, if the figure of the mouse 35 is distant from the cat 28 or considerably to the left, as shown in Fig. 2, then under like circumstances the energy imparted to the solenoid I4 will be insufiiicent for a measurable length of time to impart an oscillatory movement to the lever [2. Further, all of the above factors are further modified by the use of a. block 36 of any suitable material which may be arranged at any point along the top of the lever 12.

As a setting or background for the figures illustrated in this embodiment of my invention, I may utilize a sheet 31 of cardboard, ornamented as shown in Fig. 1, and at one end thereof fixed so as to simulate a box or fence 38 behind which the mouse 35 periodically disappears in its attempt to escape from the cat 28.

Whereas I have described my invention by reference to specific forms thereof, it will be understood that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. An animated display device comprising in combination a base, a lever pivotally mounted on the base, means for oscillating the lever, a plurality of display figures, and diiferentially resilient means for mounting the display figures indidivually on the lever, whereby upon oscillatory motion imparted to the lever differential movement is imparted to the respective display figures.

2. An animated display device comprising in combination a base, a lever pivotally mounted on the base, means for oscillating the lever, a rplurality of display figures, and differentially and serially arranged means for mounting the display figures individually on the lever, whereby upon oscillatory motion imparted to the lever differential movement is imparted to the respective display figures.

3. An improved animated display device comprising in combination a base, a lever pivotally mounted on the base, means mounted on the base and on the lever for imparting oscillatory motion to the lever, a plurality of display figures, resilient means for mounting the display figures on the lever independently of each other, whereby oscillatory motion is imparted to each of the display figures independently of each other upon oscillation of the lever, the period of oscillation of each of the display figures being independent of each other and of the oscillatory motion of the lever, and whereby the oscillatory motion of the display figures controls the timing of the oscillatoriy motion of the lever.

4. In an improved animated display device the combination of a base, a lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on the base, a-solenoid mounted in one end of the base, an electric energizing circuit for said solenoid including a heat controlled thermostatic switch, and whereby the solenoid is intermittently energized, a plunger armature mounted at one end of the lever and cooperating with the solenoid to cause an oscillatory motion on the part of the lever upon energization of the solenoid, a plurality of display figures, each mounted independently of each other and on the lever, the said mountings for the animated display figures being resilient in character and each having an independent period of vibration, and whereby the period of oscillation of the lever by the solenoid is affected by the position of one or more of the animated display figures at the time of energization of the solenoid and a movable weight on the lever for controlling the oscillatory motion thereof independently of the animated display figures and of the solenoid.

ERNST BORREGARD. 

